I broke my left foot and need surgery. I am petrified as to how bad the pain is going to be after. I am supposively going to one of the best places at the institute for Foot and Ankle at Mercy in Baltimore and have a surgeon that seems to have a great reputation. He was very candid with me on how bad the pain will be, and I can't stop crying, shaking. Just don't know how to cope. I have a 2 year old so I want to get this so I can be well for her. If you can help me please do so. I don't know how I am going to cope with this horrid incredible pain! I had difficult pain after sinus surgery in 1993, but from what I am told this is going to be much much worst. I am scared! I have a really low pain tolerance and the institute doesn't seem worried or can do anything to help me. I have never been so scared in my life. I would really welcome any support or help you can give me if any.

I broke midfoot. I believe there are at lelast 3 breaks and lisfranc tear. I believe one is going to be fusion if he must. The other breaks won't be. I believe it is the Lisfranc? I am so scared. Just can't stop crying. I am drinking water at least I can't eat. Although I sure don't want to gain weight so I guess that's good. Don't know what meds it is really safe to take. I got Oxycodine for pain from the orthopedist that said this was serious and sent me to Baltimore. I also take 20 mg prozac, .5 ativan as needed (twice day), and take 12.5 ambien cr. I am so useless right now and feel there is no hope. I have a two year old adopted girl and an 87 year old Mom in assisted living right now. We have adult children, not sure how much help they will be. I am so worried how I will deal with this. I am sure this is the best thing to go through with it, but am so sick and scared. I am not in a lot of pain right now, got a boot. I guess I can pray all I can but there is nothing to be done to help the pain, at least thats what the doctor said.

It is hard to believe that nothing can be done to ease the pain!!!!! Many people have had various foot surgeries on this board. You will not be pain free but most people find that the correct meds, elevating, icing etc etc help make the pain tolerable.

I know this is a great doctor in a great institute. I don't understand. He said the pain will be so bad I will be cursing his name, and to trust him on that. I am so sick, don't care if I ever eat again. Really hope I just pass. I am so scared! I don't curse anybody's name. I can't stop crying! Thank you for writing! Please pray for me and my little girl. I am so scared! This is at the foot and ankle institute in Baltimore. I live in Maryland so thought this was the best possible solution. I just don't know what to do! The PA told me the same thing, the pain will be horrible. I know they want to be honest with me before, I just don't think I will make it to surgery. Thank you again for writing!

Hang in there!!!!! I broke my foot on Nov 1, with an unstable lisfranc. I had my surgery on Nov 26, and thankfully as of last week I'm now able to put full weight on my foot again - I'll be in the boot for a while longer, and have been able to get back to one crutch, so the end is in sight.

I know it's scary - I was terrified. But half the battle is identifying the problem, and it sounds like they know what's going on. Have they told you if you need surgery or not? Basically, if it's a 'stable lisfranc' they can often just immobilise it to heal, but if it's 'unstable' they need to do surgery and pin it (I have four pins in my foot). The specialist will do tests, mine did an MRI and also a weight bearing Xray (they need to see whether the bones splay out) and then they'll know which version it is.

You'll be surprised at the ways you find to cope. I hired a wheelchair for four months so that I could easily get around at home. Some people use a wheeled office chair to do the same thing. Many large shopping malls have a 'mobility service' where you can borrow motorised scooters - I used to love going out on that just to feel the wind in my hair! Depending on which foot you broke you may also be able to drive - I was.

Try and rest as much as you can, keep your foot up and keep the ice on it regularly. The soft icebags from the drugstore that you fill with icecubes and cold water are great as they settle around your foot more easily than the blue goo ones from the freezer.

You will get through this - every day is another day towards you healing. Main thing is to get to see the specialist and get your treatment plan in place.

I have had my heal cut off and moved over an inch a year ago. It was horrible! BUT....ask your doc if you can have a "nerve block". That way when you wake up, there will be no pain. The key to controlling pain is to stay "ahead" of the pain. Never wait till it hurts to take the pain killer. Having a nerve block allows them to start pain meds before the block wears off. As it's wearing off the pain meds kick in and it never gets too bad. When you go home, set your alarm clock on your cell phone for every 4 hours and take a pill whether you feel pain or not. That's staying ahead of it. Don't be scared. Talk to your Dr. about your fears and ask him how he can help. You will be ok. I've been through alot of painful surgeries and the fear of not knowing what to expect is far greater than the reality ever is. Be that terrified isn't good for your blood pressure so get those questions answered. Ask if you will be on a morphine drip. That should calm you down. If you know what to expect when you wake up, it won't be so bad. Good luck!!! I'll be thinking about ya. Hang in there!

Thank you they are doing a nerve block. The doctor said after the nerve block wears off it will be the most crazy pain ever. I have never been so scared in my life. I just don't know how to cope! I will take the pain meds. He said I won't sleep for a few days the pain will be so bad. He said the pain meds won't help with this. I am a very anxious scared person, I just don't know how to cope. I mean this is suppose to be the best foot place in my area. I could not believe the way they were unconcerned about me being so terrified and scared. I am so weak,have no pain tolerance, I am not good enough for nothing. I am supposed to see my primary doc on Thursday.

One last thing on the pain aspect - mine was manageable with strong pain meds for the time prior to the surgery, but I won't lie - waking up from the surgery was the worst pain I've ever felt.

BUT!!!!

It does pass. It really does. You can have a nerve block, or you can just ask that they're ready to go with morphiene as soon as you come around after surgery. When you're recovering they'll give you one of the buttons to press so you can give yourself more pain meds while you're in hospital (trust me, I was clicking every time the light came on!).

I'm in Australia and they're very careful about strong meds, and when I checked out of hospital they only gave me enough Oxycodone to last about 5 days. I had a meltdown in the hospital pharmacy ("where are the rest of the tablets?!?!?!") but as it turned out I was able to move from them onto a normal pain medication after four days, and didn't actually use them all! It may not seem like there's an end in sight while you're in the middle of it but it will pass.

My surgery was inpatient. The doctor-- also top rated at the top orthopedic hospital in the country routinely keeps is patients in the hospital three days for pain control. I was on a pump that allowed me to control the amount of pain meds I get and the nurses gave me oral meds for breakthrough pain. At one point, I had horrible spasms. I beeped for the nurse who had the pain management doctor come (within ten minutes) They added another med which helped with the spasms. When I was released to go home my doctor said "stayahead of the pain." I took the maximum dose of meds for the first four or five days that I was home and then was able to start to taper down. By the time I was 2 weeks post op, I didn't need pain meds except for one before bed to allow me to sleep the night through. By the time I was 3 weeks post op, I was able to discontinue the night time pain med. You sound very anxious right now. That will only make your recovery more difficult. I know it is scary but try to psych yourself up. I hope that your doctor is willing to give you appropriate pain management. How long will you be in the hospital for pain control?

No time in the hospital. He said staying in the hospital wasn't safe, insurance won't cover it, and the pain there will be worst than at home. I just don't understand. I don't understand why they can't do something like what you said. Any thought of hospital stay seemed totally out. It didn't make sense to me. Where else could I go? I am in Maryland. The Foot and Ankle Institute at Mercy is supposed to be really good. Why would they scare me so and give me no altiernatives but to be tortured. I am scared it will feel like daggers cutting me for days and I will get no relief at all. I cant handle that! Thank you for writing. I can't stop crying!

I don't know what to tell you. I am so suprised that they said that staying in the hospital wasn't safe, unless they have a high infection rate. I had my surgery in NYC. I had 5 proceedures including the one that involves moving the heal (calcaneal osteotomy) I guess each doctor has a different opinion/protocol when it comes to post op treatment. The combination of pain meds from the self controlled machine and supplemental meds given by the nurses allowed me to sleep about 80% of the the time. For me, it really helped me to have the level of pain support that I had. I hope things work out for you. Just remember that you will make it through the surgery and will feel so much better in awhile. I found my recovery to be long and difficult- 8 weeks NWB but I am so so so happy that I had the surgery as I am able to go about my day to day activities pain free. That would not have been possible without the surgery.

If you feel so unsure about the doctor's additude and approach to pain management, you may want to see another doctor for a second opinion.

Just remember to stay ahead of the pain, keep your foot elevated above your heart, and Ice, ice ice! I bought a wedge shaped pillow for elevating the foot. It's better than stacking pillows that won't stay in place. I loved it! It was the only way I was comfortable. Keeping my foot up high enough. Sounds like your doctor doesn't have a very good bedside manor to have you so terrified! You can control the pain with Percosets, elevation, and ice. Just remember you are stronger than you think. Yes it's scarey, but you will get through it. Get a knee walker too. Don't use crutches! A knee walker is like a scooter and you rest your bad leg on it with the knee bent. Get one that steers. Some of them don't steer. Make sure you have an elevated toliet seat, and a shower stool with handles too. I don't know what I would have done if I hadn't had those things. Good luck dear!

Foot and Ankle specialists are not easy to come by. I am calling them in the morning again and talking with them again. This is such a burden on my husband with us having a two year old. I just don't know where to turn or where to go where they will help with the pain. Maybe Mercy in Baltimore has a high infection rate, he said hospitals were not safe. It doesn't make sense to me. I am so confused and scared, I thought I was going to one of the finest centers available. I don't want my husband to get sick, just have no one to help me find other doctors. I am going to try and call University of Maryland tomorrow. When I called today all I got was answering machines, no calls back. I think it would be best for me to just pass out of fear for my family than have to deal with me anymore.

Just remember to stay ahead of the pain, keep your foot elevated above your heart, and Ice, ice ice! I bought a wedge shaped pillow for elevating the foot. It's better than stacking pillows that won't stay in place. I loved it! It was the only way I was comfortable. Keeping my foot up high enough. Sounds like your doctor doesn't have a very good bedside manor to have you so terrified! You can control the pain with Percosets, elevation, and ice. Just remember you are stronger than you think. Yes it's scarey, but you will get through it. Get a knee walker too. Don't use crutches! A knee walker is like a scooter and you rest your bad leg on it with the knee bent. Get one that steers. Some of them don't steer. Make sure you have an elevated toliet seat, and a shower stool with handles too. I don't know what I would have done if I hadn't had those things. Good luck dear!

THese things sound great but I have none of them. Except for brush burns on my knees struggling to get to the bathroom. I fell off the crutches and hurt my left hand. I have no idea how to get these things when I am in this condition! I will google all these things like elevated toilet seet, wedge shaped pillow. Please pray for me, I have a little girl, I don't want to not be able to walk again, die, or lose my foot! I can't see how I can make it three or four days with dagger pain.? What have I done to deserve this! Thank you so much for writing. I am having problems putting the ice on my foot now. When I put it on the piillows it just falls down, and I got to ask somebody to elp. They can't keep doing that for me. I just read about the knee walker. I am hoping I can get one.